A few words

About Us

History

Our story starts way back in 1982…

1982 – We first started our work under Jockin Arputham
1987 – Formation of Bangalore Slum Dwellers Federation
1991 – formation of karnataka slum dwellers federation
1994 – Toilets in chikmanagalore
1995 – toilet in Mysore
1997 – Construction of Viveknagar Bridge
1999 – Housing in Flower Garden
2000 – Housing of Sunnadagudu
2001 – Construction ob Byapanhalli Toilet
2008 – Conducted BBMP Survey for JNNURM housing
2009 – Biometric Survey was done for KSDB
2010 – first housing development in association with karnataka slum development board. constructed 32 houses.
2011 – biometric survey for karnataka slum development board
2014 – collaboration of south indian federations
2021 – registered as slum dwellers federation – india
2024 – Formation of Managing Committee
Slum Dwellers Federation play a pivotal role in empowering marginalized communities and advocating for their rights.

Community Organizing: mobilize slum residents to form community-based organizations (CBOs) or savings groups

Data Collection and Mapping: conduct surveys and mapping exercises to document the needs, priorities, and vulnerabilities of slum dwellers, empowering communities to advocate for targeted interventions and policy reforms.

Advocacy and Policy Reform: advocate for pro-poor policies and legal reforms at the local, national, and international levels, ensuring that the voices and rights of slum dwellers are recognized and protected.

Housing Rights Campaigns: campaign for secure land tenure and access to affordable housing for slum residents, challenging forced evictions and advocating for alternative housing solutions that prioritize the needs of the urban poor.

Infrastructure Development: work with local authorities and development partners to improve basic infrastructure and services in slum areas, including water supply, sanitation, roads, and electricity, enhancing living conditions and quality of life for residents.

Capacity Building and Training: provide training and capacity-building programs for community leaders and activists, empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead grassroots initiatives and advocate for their communities.

Income Generation and Livelihood Support: facilitate access to financial services, vocational training, and micro-enterprise development initiatives, enabling slum residents to generate sustainable livelihoods and escape the cycle of poverty.

Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Building: implement disaster risk reduction programs and community-based resilience-building initiatives to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and climate change on slum communities.

Health and Education Programs: collaborate with health and education providers to improve access to quality healthcare and education services in slum areas, promoting maternal and child health, literacy, and school enrollment.

Solidarity and Exchange: foster solidarity and exchange among slum communities, facilitating knowledge-sharing, peer learning, and mutual support networks to strengthen resilience and collective action

Origin

SDF is a sensitive response to the innumerable socio-economic disparities that has ripped apart the human fabric with the bane of caste, class and gender; duly compounded with the irrational distribution of power, status and resources. Founded in 1982 and constituted in 2021 by a few like-minded visionaries under the able leadership of Mr. John Samuel, deeply committed to the cause of suffering slum dwellers, it has a legal identity of being a not for profit non-governmental organization; registered under the Societies Registration Act.

Vision

SDF envisions a society, devoid of all forms of disparities; where everyone will be endowed with equal opportunity to emerge economically independent and socially dignified.

Mission

In realizing the above vision, SDF endeavours to usher in a new social order founded on social justice and human welfare, where all people irrespective of their caste, color, region or religion would live in perfect harmony with nature’s bounties; duly sharing the power, status and resources.
SDF is primarily concerned with the urban slums though, it considers the urban backwardness as an extension of rural poverty and strives to extend its concern over the rural sector also; as it believes that today’s village will be tomorrow’s slum
The process of empowerment will be through organized and planned activities of the people themselves, duly conditioned by creation of awareness, increase in knowledge and intensive motivation; that they would collectively strive to assert their rightful share in the net national resources.

Achievements

know your Slum
Community Toilets
Slum redelopment – Housing
Public 2 personel – Transport
Community Savings
Night Schools
Water and Sanitation
Women Empowerment
know your City
Health initiatives

Vision

SDF envisions a society, devoid of all forms of disparities; where everyone will be endowed with equal opportunity to emerge economically independent and socially dignified.

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Our partners

Mission
SDF endeavours to usher in a new social order founded on social justice and human welfare, where all people irrespective of their caste, color, region or religion would live in perfect harmony with nature’s bounties; duly sharing the power, status and resources.